I only recently became aware that there exists an Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Baghdad, and this Archdiocese is a part of the Patriarchate of Antioch.

Pray for our Orthodox brethren in Iraq.

Message from the Metropolitan for Great and Holy Friday 2003Beloved faithful of our Archdiocese:

I cannot help but think of the suffering of tens of thou-sands of Iraqi children who have been victimized by war.

We thank God that the people of this Archdiocese have responded generously in the past to all social and natural disasters, whether in America, Mexico, Latin America, Africa, Eastern Europe or the Middle East. The scenes of suffering Iraqi children break one’s heart. Suffering has no nationality and no boundaries. We recall the words of our Lord in Matthew: “Whatever you have done to the least of these, my brethren, you have done it unto me.”

As you know, we have an Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Baghdad under the omophorion of our beloved brother, Metropolitan Constantine Pappastephanou, and this Archdiocese is a part of the Patriarchate of Antioch.

I am appealing to you, beloved children, as you commemorate the agony of our Lord on the cross on Great Friday, to take a collection to help save some of the children in Iraq. Please give generously to this worthy cause; and immediately send your checks to the Archdiocese marked “Iraqi Children.”

May the Eternal Light of the empty tomb, which cannot be overcome by darkness, shine in your hearts and in the hearts of people everywhere.

You are right. Iraqi Christians need our prayers, one regime they do not want to change to is one dominated by Shia Islam. Here's a short piece from the Church of Ireland Gazette for June 6th:

Iraqi Christians anxious about Islamic fundamentalism

While most Iraqi Christians joined the celebrations following the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, they are now expressing concern and anxiety that freedom of religion will be curbed in favour of Islamic fundamentalism.

Fearing a Shiite-dominated government, Christian leaders are calling for a new constitution that will guarantee minority faiths the right to ‘profess our faith according to our ancient traditions and our religious law, the right to educate our children according to Christian principles, the right to freely assemble, to build our places of worship and our cultural and social centres according to our needs,’ the Chaldean Church has said in a statement.

‘I’m afraid for my people,’ said Bishop Ishlemon Warduni, leader of the Chaldean community that represents about 80 per cent of Iraq’s 800,000 Christians. ‘During the war we were not afraid like we are now. All Christians are in danger,’ he said in an article in Religion News Service.

‘We have a 2,000-year history in Iraq - and that is now threatened. The fanatics would see us gone,’ he said.

The danger seems most pronounced in Shiite strongholds in southern Iraq where Muslim clerics have been calling for an Islamic republic. Under Saddam Hussein, Christians were allowed freedom of worship but not to seek converts or give their children Christian names. There are increasing reports of Christian girls and women being harassed on the streets for not wearing veils. (ENS)